Wettest June on record leads to Essex farmers getting government help

Due to the record-setting wet weather, farmers in Essex County have been granted a seven-day extension to plant soybeans so they can qualify for crop insurance.

Agricorp, an agency of the Ontario Government that provides crop insurance, granted the extension after another wet weekend in southern Ontario.

"Planting dates are extended very rarely, on a crop or location basis, and under specific circumstances where it makes sense," an Agricorp media release said, in part. "Agricorp is working with farmers on a case-by-case basis and continues to monitor the situation closely."

Windsor-Essex has already posted the wettest June on record.

The airport in Windsor has reported 197.8 mm - or nearly eight inches - of rain so far this June. the total rainfall surpassed the previous record of 170 mm, set in June of 2008.

Essex County farmers are struggling to get their soybeans in the field because the fields simply aren't dry enough.

After assessing the risks and consulting with industry, Agricorp decided to extend the last day to plant soybeans in Essex County by seven days, setting a deadline of July 7.

"While some farmers are unable to plant or need to reseed, others in the area have concerns about the yield potential of crops that are already planted. Production Insurance is designed exactly for situations like these," Agricorp said in its release.

Agricorp insurance provides:

- Coverage for replanting when an insured peril damages crop stands.

- Unseeded acreage benefits to help cover costs when rainfall prevents planting in a reasonable timeframe.

In Canada, soybeans are currently the fourth-largest crop by seeded acreage, according to Soy Canada, returning $2.4 billion to Canadian farmers.

The top five soybean-producing counties in Ontario are Lambton, Chatham-Kent, Essex, Huron and Middlesex, which
are responsible for approximately 50 per cent of Ontario's production.